Annual “Return from the Burn”, Aug. 14

Join us for three days of fun celebrating the unique Tillamook State Forest. Throughout the week-end of August 15 – 17, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., the Tillamook Forest Center will host engaging activities and displays representing the history of the forest before, during, and after the fires. This event – the 9th annual “Return from the Burn” celebration hosted by the center – commemorates the recovery of northwestern Oregon forests from a series of catastrophic wildfires that began in 1933. The largest reforestation effort ever undertaken restored these devastated forestlands to today’s Tillamook State Forest that we know and enjoy. All Three Days: * Get a hug from Smokey Bear and receive a free goodie bag (Smokey visits at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day)! * Meet real forest firefighters and spray a fire hose at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day (if available due to fire season); * Create arts and crafts to take home; * Check out a vintage 1930 Ford Model AA pumper truck; * Win a prize by completing our Tillamook Forest Center Treasure Hunt or Wheel of Forest Game; * Guest presenters: Saturday, August 15 @ 1 p.m. | Guest Presenter Bruce Rottink; Old-Time Loggers: Their Tools and Techniques – The old-time loggers had a tough job, but also a lot of special tools and techniques to help them do it. This interactive session will give you a glimpse into the work-life of an old time logger, before the days of the chainsaw. If you’ve ever wanted to see and learn about an old Tillamook logger’s saw oil bottle, a falling wedge, a cat choker, or a “Tillamook Diving Board” (and much, much more), this is your chance. Impress your neighbors when you tell them you even volunteered to be an “undercut!” Sunday, August 16 @ 1 pm | Historian and Guest Presenter Ed Kamholz: The Oregon Historical Railroads Project – Join railroad historian Ed Kamholz for a pictorial overview of railroad development in Oregon and the role it played to deliver and settle Anglo culture in the state. Kamholz will address railroad development in three broad categories representing main and branch line carriers, trolley and interurban lines, and private railroads, primarily those used for logging. This presentation will also describe the ambitious Oregon Historical Railroads Project that will map all of Oregon’s historical railroads dating from the state’s first wooden tramway in 1846 to the present, and efforts to provide this information available online. This year’s Tillamook Forest Center “Return from the Burn” free event is offered in conjunction with Tillamook County’s “A Step Back in Time” which offers visitors an opportunity to visit several other museums and take a scenic train ride for an all-inclusive $15.00 pass. For more information on “A Step Back in Time”, please call the Garibaldi Maritime Museum at (503) 322-8411. We hope you’ll join us for the “Return from the Burn” event this year for some free family fun! Location, Days, and Hours: The Tillamook Forest Center is located on Highway 6 at milepost 22; approximately one hour from Portland and 20 minutes from the city of Tillamook. Summer hours (7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) continue through September 7. Fall hours (Wednesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) begin on September 8, 2015. Admission is always free, as are most programs and events. For more information, visit www.tillamookforestcenter.org or call toll-free (866) 930-4646.